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[edit] Literary Criticism

[edit] Roman à clef

After the novel's publication in 1936, the newspaper Pariser Tageszeitung presented it as a roman à clef. Mann resented this characterization and argued that he had not written about a particular individual, but about a type of individuals.

[edit] Character Symbols

Name	Character Description	Role	Based on
Hendrik Höfgen	arrogant and power hungry, scrupulous, knowingly without morals, ambitious and vain, has a beastly smile	Actor, Director, Theatre manager	Gustaf Gründgens
Juliette Martens	loves Höfgen, but also his rejection	outsider based on her color	Andrea Manga Bell
Dora Martin	successful actress both in and outside of the country	Jewish emigrant actress	Elisabeth Bergner
Nicoletta Niebuhr	admirer of Marder (seen as a father), leads an artistic lifestyle	Actress	Pamela Wedekind
Lotte Lindenthal	uncultured, believes she is liked by everyone (optimistic)	"Mother of the Nation", model woman	Emmy Göring
Barbara Bruckner	intelligent, compassionate, independent, later a political fighter	liberal bourgeoisie	Erika Mann
Prime Minister	pompous (with uniforms and expensive parties), wants to appear courageous	powerful politician	Hermann Göring